Jeremiah 35:1-19 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,… I. LOOK AT THE AUTHORITY OF GOD — the right He has to be obeyed and hearkened to. "I have spoken unto you," saith God. We must lay a stress upon that "I." We must contrast it with the name of Jonadab. It is as much as to say, What is Jonadab compared with Me? What is his authority compared with Mine? II. WE MUST LAY A STRESS ALSO UPON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE LORD HATH GIVEN HIS DIRECTIONS TO US. "I have spoken unto you," saith He — how? "rising early and speaking." Oh! wonderful expression! spoken, indeed, in accommodation to man's language; but how affecting! how significant! Jonadab, perhaps, laid down his rules but once, and was readily obeyed. But again and again hath the Great Jehovah sent abroad His invitations, and renewed His offers, and repeated His commands. III. THE NATURE OF THE LORD'S DIRECTIONS. Look over Jonadab's injunctions, and assuredly you will pronounce them harsh and strict in the extreme. He laid an embargo on the very gifts of providence, and bade his family abstain from them. Now contrast with this the gentle, gracious precepts of the Gospel of Christ Jesus — surely His yoke is easy and His burthen is light! But before He gives His precepts He sends His invitations (Matthew 11:28). Pardon and grace are first proposed before duties are required. (A. Roberts, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, |
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